Related Links

PHILADELPHIA – The Penn women’s tennis team (7-3) will return home on Saturday to host Temple (5-8, 2-3 A-10) in its last non-conference match of the regular season before beginning Ivy League play on March 30 at home against Princeton. The Quakers return to Philadelphia for the first time since their six-match road swing during which they went 3-3 – they had victories over James Madison, Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast.

The match against the Owls will get underway at Noon at the Levy Tennis Pavilion. The last time the two programs met was on March 21 of last season at Levy as well – the Owls defeated Penn 4-3 in a tight match. The Red and Blue won the doubles point that day, taking first and second doubles, but were only able to win two of the six singles matches. The Quakers lead the all-time series 25-6 and are 20-5 when playing against Temple at home.

Penn has been surging of late, winners of three of its last four, and will look to get back in the win column against the Owls after its tough 4-3 loss to Maryland last weekend. Stephanie Do (7-3) has also won three of her last four singles matches, with her most recent coming at third singles against the Terrapins. Sol Eskenazi (7-2) saw her five-match win streak snapped at first singles against the Terps as well, but will look to continue her personal success against Temple by helping the Red and Blue to their eighth win of the spring. Sonya Latycheva (7-2) is riding high with a five-match win streak of her own, and the freshman appears to a great find for head coach Sanela Kunovac.

In doubles, the 26th-ranked pair of Eskenazi and Latycheva (8-1) has won five consecutive matches, all at first doubles, since their one and only loss of the spring to the current No. 5 duo in the country, Maria Belaya and Jeltje Loomans of No. 44 William & Mary. Do and Alex Ion (3-1) are also on a bit of a streak, having won three of their last four completed matches, all at third doubles. On the spring, Penn has been dominant in doubles play, losing just five matches compared to 22 victories.